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“I must meet with the generals,” Osias says, clasping Octavia’s hand in his.
“We all should,” Titus agrees. “This fight is nowhere close to being over, especially since Mateo is still alive.”
Mateo’s arm tightens around me, his jaw working as he studies Titus.
“Were you hoping for my death?”
“Of course not,” Titus huffs, an enigmatic grin curling on his lips. “Well, maybe just a little—but in all seriousness, you being alive must mean the dagger Romulus has isn’t real.”
The satchel at my side seems to get heavier as the weight of everyone’s stares turn to me.
“It isn’t,” I confirm tightly, unwilling to reveal where the real one is just yet.
“Quick thinking, little sister, but he’ll find out sooner or later.” Titus nods to me, but his expression turns grim. “He’ll do anything to get it back, even if it means destroying everything you love.”
Chapter Two
Mateo
Oliviastiffens,hershouldersrigid beneath my palm. We knew this though. Regardless of the dagger, we knew Romulus was going to come after us; it was only a matter of when.
“I’ve been able to keep the magic flowing to the fake dagger,” Olivia says, glancing over her shoulder at Adrian. “Adrian told me he’s been able to feed power to his illusions in the mortal realm for centuries, so I should be able to do the same.”
“We wouldn’t have a problem if it was a building or a structure, but it’s a dagger that kills dark gods, one he’ll be itching to use now to keep the others in line,” Titus explains, and Kallen nods in agreement. “Someone will have to pay the price of their failure tonight, and he’ll use them as an example in case any of them seek to betray him.”
“I’m afraid he’s right,” Octavia says sadly. “He’ll know you’ve made a switch the moment he tries to end someone, and he won’t take that embarrassment lightly.”
“Which means he’ll know that his connection has been severed,” Olivia murmurs, her mouth tightening into a thin line as she looks off into the distance.
“We all made it out of there relatively unscathed,” Kyros interjects, and Adrian claps me on the shoulder as if everyone needed a reminder of who got stabbed. “But I know there were some who weren’t as lucky. We should get to the others so I can try to save who we can.”
“I can help,” Olivia insists, pulling out of my grip, her hand falling from Maximus’.
I frown back at Kyros, but he doesn’t bother acknowledging my annoyance as he captures Liv’s hands in his own and dissipates them away.
I should’ve thought of that first. I figured almost dying might get me a little bit more sympathy, but apparently I’m supposed to be over that already.
“Asshole,” Maximus grumbles, his thoughts seemingly headed in the same direction as mine.
“He definitely did that on purpose,” Adrian huffs, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You’re so whipped,” Titus snickers, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I’ll be sure to remind you of this if you find your mate,” I taunt.
“Not that this isn’t entertaining,” Osias interjects, his brow raised, with amusement dancing in his mocking eyes like he wasn’t just all over his mate a few minutes ago. “Some of us have things to do.”
Motherfucker.
He gives me a pointed look before dissipating to the meeting point with Octavia in tow.
“You two should stay here,” I say, my jaw ticking as Adrian and Maximus dissipate too, leaving me to clean up the mess. “You’ll only cause more stress.”
“But there might be something—”
“No,” I command, cutting Titus off. “We heard your story, but there isn’t enough time to relay that to the whole army. We need to focus on regrouping and taking care of the injured.”
With that, I dissipate too, leaving them to do whatever the hell they do.
